FSLs, medical colleges lack coordination, says AIIMS study

After the Nirbhaya case, the Central government thought to strengthen the forensic laboratories across the country, however, the situation is still the same.

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Priyanka Sharma

New Delhi

August 10, 2018

UPDATED: August 10, 2018 18:35 IST

Forensic Science Lab

HIGHLIGHTS

AIIMS conducted a study

Study pointed out urgent need for more FSLs across the country

There is mismatch in the functioning of FSL and medical colleges that leads to delay in viscera report

After the Nirbhaya case, the Central government thought to strengthen the forensic laboratories across the country, however, the situation is still the same.

One such study carried at AIIMS noted that there is a severe mismatch in the functioning of Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs) and medical colleges where post-mortems are conducted leads to delay and negative viscera report.

A total of 1,713 postmortems were conducted at AIIMS in 2013, out of these 710 cases, the viscera analysis report was done in only 323 (45.5per cent) cases till April 2017 and only 6.2 per cent cases within the period of six months of conduction of autopsy. Around 387 vicersa analysis are still pending.

AIIMS received toxological viscera analysis in 6.2 per cent cases within the period of six months of conduction of postmortem.

Dr Sudhir Gupta, head of forensic medicine department at AIIMS said, A toxicology unit which can handle the analysis of the commonly found poisons and drugs should be established associated with government medical colleges and district hospitals where postmortem are being conducted. This will improve the process of delivery of natural justice."

Sharing his own experience, Dr Abhishek Yadav, Assistant Professor, forensic medicine unit at AIIMS said: "A negative viscera report creates a dilemma for the autopsy surgeon when there is no other pathology or injuries found during the postmortem and there is a suspicion of foul play in the case with specific allegations of poisoning. Similarly, a false positive report can also raise an unwarranted suspicion in a case. I have encountered many problems too."

Dr Yadav said that currently viscera are collected by police officers are submitted to the FSLs as per the waiting list according to the priority of the case. "Delay in processing leading to decomposition of the tissue is a well-established reason for a negative analysis and if this is the situation of Delhi, one can imagine the number of incomplete investigations across the country."

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